“Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5 CSB
Wow. Same attitude as Christ? I’ve got a long way to go. Gratefully, I’m not where I used to be, but I also have a long way to go. We all do, because we’re not Jesus, nor will we ever be Him. But that doesn’t mean we can’t strive to BE like Him. We do this by following His lead, doing what He has already done, what we learn about Him in the scriptures. Do what He did to have an attitude like Jesus. Mother Teresa did this well over her lifetime.
Mother Teresa won the Nobel peace prize in 1979 for her humanitarian work in India. The dinner they would have given to honor her with the prize would cost approximately $192,000. Can you imagine someone willing to spend $192,000 on a dinner to honor you? I can’t, not in the least. Mother Teresa, thinking like Jesus, cancelled the dinner and asked that the money be donated to the charities that she supported. That is having an attitude like Jesus. I learned something new about Mother Teresa when I researched her for this devotional. She spent 50 years of her life in spiritual crisis, at sometimes even doubting His existence. It started in 1948 and lasted until her death. 1948 is when she began her ministry in Calcutta to the poor. The ministry that she won over 120 awards because of her selfless devotion. Because she exuded Christ as she ministered to those in need. Even she had doubts.
We all have doubts. We all wonder if what we’re doing really matters. If the small acts of love that you do are noticed. I know I do. But I also know they are. I know that it is absolutely worth it to find out what Jesus would do, then follow His example. I know because I’ve been there, done that, bought the t-shirt. I’ve tried life thinking like Beth, that never ends well. But when I try it, thinking like Jesus, when I follow the example He set, it always ends good. Might be hard going through it, but once He brings me to the other side of it, I’m always grateful.
Not only do we need to do what Jesus did so we can think like Him, we also need Him to help us do it. Typically, once I know what I need/have to do, I pray for the strength and energy to do it. It is hard to love someone you don’t like or are mad at. It’s hard to forgive people who have hurt you, or pray for them. It’s hard to trust God when you are overwhelmed with life, good or bad. It’s all hard, but it’s what Jesus would do, it’s what we’re to do. We can only do it together. Can’t do it without Jesus. The good news is, we don’t have too!
